Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41950392›Full record

SynthesisThe oncologist2026

Outcomes of immunotherapy in medulloblastoma: a systematic review.

Patrícia Fontão, Marta Viana-Pereira, Filipa Pinto-Ribeiro, Thais Junqueira, Rui M Reis

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The oncologist, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Patrícia FontãoLife and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
Marta Viana-PereiraLife and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
Filipa Pinto-RibeiroLife and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
Thais JunqueiraBarretos Children's Cancer Hospital, Barretos 14784-390, São Paulo, Brazil.
Rui M ReisLife and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-9639-7940

Funding

Brazilian Ministry of HealthNational Council for Scientific and Technological Development-CNPq, Brazil
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMedulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Medulloblastoma has intrinsic characteristics that pose significant challenges to effective immunotherapy. Nevertheless, several clinical trials have explored immunotherapeutic strategies in patients diagnosed with medulloblastoma. This systematic review aimed to synthesize all immunotherapy modalities investigated in medulloblastoma patients and reported clinical outcomes.

methodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 30 June 2025 using the terms "immunotherapy" and ("brain tumor," "pediatric brain tumor," or "medulloblastoma"). Original articles, clinical trials, and conference abstracts evaluating any immunotherapeutic intervention in patients with medulloblastoma were included. Risk of bias was assessed using JBI critical appraisal tools.

resultsFifty-six studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing at least 183 patients with medulloblastoma. Nearly half were Phase I trials (24/56, 43%), and 18% (10/56) were non-trial designs. Among the 29 studies reporting clinical outcomes, adoptive cellular therapies in combination regimens (7/29, 24%) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (6/29, 21%) were most frequently evaluated. Overall, clinical benefit was limited. Median overall survival ranged from 1.29 to 47 months, and median progression-free survival from 0.79 to 11 months. Progressive disease was reported in 40 patients, partial responses in 13, and complete responses in three patients.

conclusionsDespite increasing trial activity, immunotherapy has shown modest efficacy in patients with medulloblastoma. Interpretation is limited by small cohorts, heterogeneity, and inconsistent reporting of outcomes. Future studies should prioritize rational antigen selection, molecular subgroup stratification, and improved trial design.

Indexed as

Cerebellar NeoplasmsImmunotherapyMedulloblastomaChildHumansTreatment Outcomeclinical trial outcomesimmunotherapymedulloblastomapediatric brain tumor

Identifiers

PMID41950392
PMCPMC13195807

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.